Why Joe Biden Won the Debate
post 44 - three points to consider
Hello Friends,
This is the most different article I have written so far for “Looking for America.” I usually begin working on my next episode on Tuesday, to give myself two full days to write what I hope takes only five minutes to read. This past week, I thought I might get out two articles – this one, which I started writing six days ago and hoped to post on Tuesday, and a second one to come out on the morning of July 4 about how Pete Seeger used the power of song to help keep the flame of democracy alive. But this one article has taken more time than I planned to spend on both.
So, I am going to simply list three points to consider.
A VERY DARK PLACE
First, Donald Trump is coming from a very dark place. Do I dare say “evil?” His behavior at the so-called “debate” amounted to nothing less than a full frontal psychic attack. That’s a loaded assertion that I will have to explain in a future article. But, here is just one example.
Trump has somehow hypnotized the masses into supporting his plan to deport millions of people. To convince his followers, he uses the same techniques that were used the last time a Western country deported millions of people. That country was 1930’s and 40’s Germany. A huge portion of our population supports not only this policy but also the premises on which this policy is based – the very same premises that led to Germany’s almost complete destruction (let alone all the other treacheries).
He accomplishes this by identifying people’s weaknesses (everybody has some) and throwing misleading, cock-eyed “logic” at them that exploits their emotional desperation. As I said, I will expand on this in the future. But, it may be the most important thing about this year’s election.
DEMOCRACY vs. AUTOCRACY
Second, both candidates laid out their policy objectives and how they are built upon their principles, values, and visions. Biden laid out a democratic vision while Trump’s was autocratic. Biden misspoke, muddled words, mashed sentences, and seemed disoriented. This is indeed concerning. But behind all of this, he still managed to lay out his accomplishments and his goals for a second term.
Even if you argue he couldn’t even manage that, we still know what they are. And, whether you agree or not with his principles, they are grounded in a positive vision that a government of, for, and by the people can endure at least another few more years.
Trump was manically incoherent. Did Biden’s distractors miss that? (Shame on the New York Times!) Instead of mumbling words and mangling sentences, Trump jumped from one misleading statement to the next and from one out-and-out lie to the next. His sequiturs were literally mind-boggling. He seemed more disoriented than did Biden. He spoke as if he lived in an entirely different country on an entirely different planet that exists only in the depths of hell. He told us that his dystopian country sucks. Everybody in his world is laughing at and doesn’t respect his country. Nobody else on his entire planet in all of history has ever been picked on as much as him. And where he lives, anger, vengeance, and grievance are high virtues.
It boils down to Biden’s positive vision of democracy versus Trump’s maniacal vision of self-serving, grievance-driven autocracy.
FIGHTING OVER WHO WILL SAVE US
Third, Trump has us right where he wants us - doing work for him by fighting each other. He has the public so hypnotized, that we, and too many pundits, forget an essential quality of democracy:
It shouldn’t matter if our president dies or becomes incapacitated while in office.
This is because the Biden Administration is not about Biden. It’s a strong, competent team with a vision, clearly defined policy objectives, and principles. Should the team’s leader fall, those policies and principles will continue to be implemented.
That’s what happened when Franklin Roosevelt and John Kennedy died in office. It happened again with Ronald Reagan. There is ample evidence Reagan was mentally incompetent by 1986. But, as much as I disliked his policies and principles, there was no chaos as Reagan’s mental capacities waned. In all three incidences, it was business as usual in the White House.
We can expect a similar result if Biden should fall in his second term. The Constitution set things up to assure that the presidency is not about the man. It’s about the office and the law.
WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN THE GAME
I am reminded of the 1990-91 New York Giants football team. It was led by quarterback Phil Simms, arguably one of the best QBs in the league. He secured the team a Super Bowl victory in 1987. Then, four years later, halfway through the 90-91 season, Simms suffered a season-ending injury. Jeff Hostetler took over the helm and guess what. The Giants won the Super Bowl again. Hostetler was not the best quarterback, but he led a powerful competent team.
Saving democracy is not a game. But the analogy still works. Even if you don’t think Biden is one of the best presidents in our history, he still effectively runs a good capable team that is getting things done - a lot of things. And the team can carry on seamlessly should Biden fall.
GOOD CHEMISTRY
There is good chemistry between Biden and his team, as well as between Biden and our allies. On the other hand, Trump has shown himself to be a terrible leader who sews discord within his inner circle and between allies. The huge number of former White House staff who refuse to endorse and even warn against re-electing him should shock us awake to this fact.
HERE’S THE CHOICE
Biden and Trump each showed who they are: One believes in autocracy and himself above all others, and (probably intentionally) surrounds himself with unqualified sycophants. He also has a history of running a chaotic administration that, among other things, botched the pandemic. The other believes in democracy and the rule of law and has put together a strong unified team. He also has a long list of real accomplishments. I’ll take the latter guy over the former guy any day of the week.
Keep the Flame Alive!
Well done.
Amen to all that you said. I wish they would quit trying to force Biden to back out. I would like to see some of those folks stand up to the horrible treatment that Trump was giving him. He looked like he could not even believe the lies that Trump was saying about him.